USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hingham > History of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 10
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Taken in captivity they become, like a dog, quite attached to those about them, and will not willingly be parted from them.
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Notes on Animal Life.
Kept as pets for a time, individuals have become so fond of per- sons about them as to manifest great uneasiness upon being re- stored to their native element, and have been known to work themselves over a considerable surface of land in order to re- join their captors. A vessel on which was a captured young seal has been known to be followed a great distance by the frantic mother, suffering from the loss of her offspring. Surely, animals with affection and sensibility quite equalling man's, and having the great intelligence which they are known to possess, merit and should receive all the protection which has been accorded to those of their number who have trusted themselves to the hospitality of the neighborhood.
FISHES.
The fishes of Massachusetts Bay have been admirably described and beautifully illustrated by Dr. D. Humphreys Storer in his " His- tory of the Fishes of Massachusetts." It is reasonable to suppose that individuals of very many of the species sometimes enter the harbor. Indeed one of the citizens, Mr. Charles B. Barnes, who has fished in its waters as much perhaps as any one living, and the accuracy of whose observations can be relied upon, has recog- nized a very large number of fish that have been caught by him and others within the limits of Hingham through the descriptions 'given in that work.
A few words concerning the Smelt, that the future inhabitants of the town may know how greatly their predecessors were blessed by the abundance of this delicious fish. The number caught by hook and line in the harbor is very large, supplying the tables of most of the inhabitants in the fall months, and furnishing great quantities for the Boston market. During the right scason numer- ous boats are always to be seen with parties engaged in fishing, while on the wharf margins, rows of men and boys may be ob- served intent upon drawing in the coveted prey. No idea can be given of the number taken during a season.
MOLLUSKS.
The Mollusks of the harbor are few in species, but fortunately for the town, the most highly prized member of them all, the Common Clam (Mya arenaria, L.), is exceedingly abundant. There can be no doubt, judging by the elam-shell heaps near the shores, that this species contributed largely towards the sustenance of the Indian when he alone occupied the territory ; and if in the present period it is not so absolutely necessary to sustain the life of the white man, it yet affords a luxurious repast for his table, and fur- nishes the material for hundreds of clam-bakes for the summer parties that daily visit the watering places. The number taken along
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History of Hingham.
the beaches of our coast, including those of the islands, is enor- mous, and has been estimated at upward of a thousand bushels during a season.
The Razor Fish is mentioned because of its great rarity and the likelihood of its not being much longer found within the harbor. A fine specimen discovered near the shore was recently presented to the writer by Mr. F. W. Brewer.
One other species will be mentioned because formerly found along the shores, although now no longer so, having become ex- tinct within the territory of the town. This is the Scallop Shell (Pecten concentricus, Say.). The fact of the shells of this species being objects of beauty has undoubtedly led to the animals being taken wherever found by the clam-diggers, and as they have an- nually turned over almost every foot of the muddy coast, the ex- termination of the scallop shell has followed.
CRUSTACEA.
The Crustacea of the harbor until within a few years included the Lobster, but it is now doubtful if any are to be found within its limits. The Common Crab, the Fiddler Crab, the Hermit Crab, and the species known to all visitors to the shores as the Horse Shoe are not uncommon. That most valuable bait for smelt and other fish, the Shrimp, is found in the shallow pools.
To the above brief notes upon some of the forms of life observed in the waters of the town a few will now be given upon species found upon the land.
MAMMALS.
By the bones found in the peat-bogs of the town we know that the Deer was an inhabitant in an early period. How late he remained such is unknown. As where these animals exist Wolves always hover about, it is fair to presume that they also found here an abode. It is certain that Beaver were once numerous along the streams, and there is no reason to doubt that the Bear like- wise found a congenial home in the territory. These have prob- ably passed away never to return. There are, however, some wild species of the mammalia, that were common in more re- cent years, and which after apparently becoming extinct have reappeared, sometimes in considerable numbers. Such has been the case with the Raccoon. This animal, commonly called the Coon, has at times suddenly manifested its presence in locali- ties of the town by depredations where it had not been known for many years.
In 1882 Mr. Jacob Corthell, on Leavitt Street, lost many chick- ens undoubtedly by this animal, as about the same time four
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Notes on Animal Life.
young coons were treed by his dog, and the parent subsequently shot. Two of the young were kept a year after.
Mr. Charles B. Barnes, to whom the writer is indebted for much information concerning wild animals of the land as well as of fishes, says that when young he trapped a coon in the woods between Old Colony Hill and Weir River, and shot the mate in a high tree near.
In the winter of 1885-86 coons appeared in considerable num- bers, and many were killed, especially in Hingham Centre. One was trapped near the house of the writer in the following spring.
Mr. Israel Whitcomb, who is a good observer, and much inter- ested in the animal life of the town, states that raccoons are by no means so rare in the woods between Hingham Centre and Cohasset as generally supposed. He has known more than twenty to be killed in a single season.
Foxes were quite numerous half a century ago. Large parties of hunters with dogs were accustomed once or twice a year to scour the woods in the lower part of the town and drive them toward and beyond Planters' Hill across the bar that connects World's End with it, when, escape being cut off, they were readily killed.
Mr. Francis W. Brewer informs the writer that in the spring of 1882 a fox had a hole in a meadow near his father's house, in which were its young.
There are yet undoubtedly many foxes living in the woods of the eastern and southern sections of the town.
The Mink, a pest of the poultry-yard, is unfortunately quite com- mon, and often manifests its destructive propensities to the great annoyance of and considerable cost to the farmer. In the summer of 1882 five hens were killed in one night in a hen-house on Mr. John R. Brewer's estate, Martin's Lane, by minks, one of which was trapped the following night, and another shot a few days afterwards.
Mr. Israel Whitcomb, of Union Street, also lost during a night of the last season a considerable number of chickens by a visita- tion of this animal.
The Weasel is another blood-thirsty visitor of the poultry-yard, but is comparatively much more rare than the Mink.
The Otter, now extinct in the town, has not been so more than half a century. Mr. Charles B. Barnes remembers one that years ago frequented the swamp, not far from his home on Summer Street during a season, and he has known of others being seen in Hingham.
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History of Hingham.
The Musk-Rat is yet common in the town, and is found along slow-running streams. Many are yearly trapped in the vicinity of Weir River.
Rabbits are yet frequently met with in the wooded parts of the town, but are less numerous than formerly.
Of the squirrel tribe the little striped one known as the Chip- munk, and the Red Squirrel are very common, the former sometimes being so numerous as to become troublesome. One season, when exceedingly abundant on the farm of the writer, they acquired the habit of burrowing holes in ripe fruit such as melons and pears, to obtain the seeds.
The Red Squirrel is often quite mischievous. Mr. F. W. Brewer mentions that one caused constant vexation during a whole sea- son to a large Newfoundland dog, by descending from trees at every favorable opportunity, and stealing his food. Like the gray squirrel, the red will sometimes rob birds' nests of the eggs and the young.
The Gray Squirrel is often seen in the autumn months grace- fully floating, as it were, from trec to tree as he passes through the forest.
The little Flying Squirrel probably yet exists in Hingham, though none have been reported as seen for several years.
BIRDS.
Of birds nothing will be said respecting those that are well known, and usually during a part of the year find a home in the town. Upon some species formerly abundant and now but occa- sionally seen, and upon the visitation of others rarely found in the region, a few remarks may be interesting.
It is but a few years since there existed in the woods of the low, swampy ground between Old Colony Hill and Weir River an extensive heronry. When first known to the writer the nests of the birds might be seen upon almost every tall tree, high in the air over acres of ground. The species was the Night Heron.
When the forest was cut through that Rockland Street might be laid out, the colony that had perhaps existed there for hun- dreds of years was disturbed, but not broken up. Attachment to the locality, notwithstanding its exposure to increasing annoyance from gunners and others, kept the birds there for years after, but they finally departed in a body and were seen no more. There are undoubtedly some inhabiting the town, as they are heard uttering the peculiar sound that has led to the common name given them of Qua-birds, when flying at the approach of night towards the shores to obtain their accustomed food.
Of several species of birds now becoming more and more rare, Mr. F. W. Brewer has expressed much in a communication to the
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Notes on Animal Life.
writer which is of interest. He states that the Great Blue Heron used formerly to visit the flats of the harbor, but that he has not seen one for several years, and that the Green Heron, which was often observed there, now appears but seldom. He further stated that this last mentioned bird used to nest in Jacob Loud's woods, and that in 1883 a nest was found back of Mr. Keeshan's house near the foot of Pear-tree hill.
After a violent and long-continued northeast storm in the spring of 1872 a considerable number of Little Auks were driven upon the coast by the severity of the gale. All of them seemed ex- hausted, and they could easily be knocked down with a stick.
Mr. W. S. Brewer saw them singly and in small flocks of five or six. Several were picked up at different localities dead or in a dying condition. The same gentleman saw two at the edge of the water on Nantasket Beach in 1886, and procured one of them. Thus it appears that this interesting bird may be expected to appear at times on our shores after severe gales from the ocean.
The Wild Pigeon, formerly a visitor in large flocks, is now sel- dom seen. A pair came into the hen-yard on Mr. J. R. Brewer's farm about four years ago, and not far from that time a small number were seen upon a tree on Summer Street.
The Carolina Pigeon, or Turtle-Dove, is rarely met with in Massachusetts, but it has been seen in Hingham at least twice within two or three years, once by Mr. Israel Whitcomb in the southern part of the town, and once by Mr. W. S. Brewer, near Martin's Lane.
As in the case of the Turtle-Dove, the Indigo Bird, though ex- ceedingly rare, has been seen within a year or two both by Mr. Israel Whitcomb in the southern part of the town, and by Mr. W. S. Brewer at Martin's Well.
The last bird to be noticed is the Scarlet Tanager. Though rarely seen, this very beautiful species unquestionably nests and breeds every year in Hingham. Choosing generally its abode in some deep forest away from the habitations of man, it is but seldom exposed to observation, as its shyness makes it cautious when visitors approach its precincts. There is exception to this when the young first leave the nest. The male then seems to lose all fear for himself in his solicitude to protect and to supply food for the young, which he does with the utmost assiduity. On this point the writer will quote some remarks from Nuttall, the celebrated ornithologist : -
" So attached to his new interesting brood is the Scarlet Tana- ger that he has been known at all hazards to follow for half a
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History of Hingham.
mile one of his young, submitting to feed it attentively through the bars of a cage, and with a devotion which despair could not. damp, roost by it in the branches of the same tree with its prison. So strong, indeed, is this innate and heroic feeling that life itself is less cherished than the desire of aiding and supporting his endearing progeny."
As most of our birds are known to suffer intensely in being deprived of their young, it would seem that the recital of such a case as that given should lead to a feeling of more interest than is always manifested in protecting our native species from cruel molestation.
It is pleasant to add that in the instance mentioned, of the young Tanager followed and tended by the courageous parent, the heart of the person having it in charge was so moved by the ex- hibition of parental devotion, that the cage was opened after four days, and the young set free. Happily reunited, parent and off- spring flew into the deep woods.
The Tanager in some rare instances has been known to build its nest near the residence of man, when this has stood near the border of a forest.
The body of the male is scarlet-red, and the wings and tail are black in the pairing season. In the autumn he becomes, like the female and young, of a dull green color.
The Tanager is but for a short time a resident in the North, arriving about the middle of May, and leaving for his tropical home very early in August.
THE BOTANY OF HINGHAM.
BY THOMAS T. BOUVÉ.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS.
IN presenting to the public an account of the plants of Hing- ham, the writer desires to express his great indebtedness to sev- eral persons, without whose aid the work of collecting specimens and identifying them could not have been accomplished in the short time allowed for its completion. Especially would he state that without the active co-operation of his esteemed friend Mr. Charles J. Sprague, many plants of our flora would undoubtedly have remained unknown, and certainly no attempt would have been made to include the Grasses or the Carices in the list of species. He gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to the Misses Ellen and Isabel Lincoln, by whose zeal and intelligent assistance a considerable number of the plants enumerated were discovered within the town limits, and to Mr. Fearing Burr, Mr. I. Wilbur Lincoln, and Mr. Henry C. Cushing also for valuable aid.
It is to be regretted that the botanists of Hingham whose inves- tigations preceded those of the writer, Mr. James S. Lewis, Mr. Fearing Burr, and others, did not prepare and preserve herbaria for their own study, and for the service of those who should follow them. The Rev. John Lewis Russell was the only one who appears to have preserved the plants he obtained ; but he made such disposal of his collections, to different parties in distant places, as to make it practically impossible to examine more than a very few of the specimens found by him in Hingham.
The list of plants as presented includes but very few that have not been collected by the writer, or by those referred to who have aided him. Those that have not come under his own eye and study have been admitted on the high anthority of the Rev. Mr. Russell and Mr. Fearing Burr. Plants found in the immediate neighboring towns, even but a few feet from the boundary line, but not within it, have been rigorously excluded.
Some reasons why many plants occurring in not far distant localities find no home in Hingham, may be of interest to the reader. Its climatic conditions, compared with those of other towns, particularly those of the North Shore, will account for this in a great degree. Cape Ann has the influence of the cold ocean currents between the Gulf Stream and the land. Hingham, being
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History of Hingham.
situated south of a shallow land-locked bay, loses this influence and has that of the prevalent summer southwest winds which come from the Gulf Stream. Although possessing a considerable sea margin on the north, it has no sand beaches, and therefore several of the peculiar plants of the ocean beaches do not occur upon its shores. These are stony. or have marsh grasses growing to the water's edge. Its ponds, excepting Accord Pond upon which it only partially borders, are all artificial, formed by damming its streams, and are lined with trees and thickets extending to the water, leaving no sandy margins like those of the Plymouth and Weymouth ponds, which afford a home for numerous plants not to be found in Hingham. A large proportion of the town's area has been cultivated for centuries and there remain few localities which have been undisturbed by the hands of man.
It may be asked how thoroughly the task of presenting a full account of the flowering plants of the town has been ac- complished, and it will gratify all interested in the subject to be assured that, though it cannot be asserted that every spe- cies growing within our borders is included in the list given, yet it may fairly be stated that the omissions can be but few. It embraces not only the trees, the shrubs, and the flowering herbs, including the Grasses and Carices, but also the Equi- setacea (Horsetail Family), the Filices (Ferns), and the Ly- copodiaceae (Club-moss Family). The Lichens, the Fungi, and other Cryptogamous forms have been necessarily omitted, as they could not have been presented without additional years of inves- tigation by specialists.
In regions where glacial action has not led to a general mixing of the earth derived from various geological formations, and where that from the decayed rocks has been but little disturbed, it is always interesting to note the influence of the several soils upon the growth of species. This is so marked as to enable the student often to recognize the character of the geological forma- tions beneath the surface by the prevalence of certain trees. This of course is not the case in Hingham, yet there is much in the varying character of locations within its limits to influence greatly the kind of species which will find in them healthy devel- opment. Some are found only in salt marshes, others only in fresh-water swamps and meadows; some only in dry, sandy, or gravelly localities, others only in rich soils. A large majority open their petals only in sunny exposures, whereas many expand their beauties only under the shade of trees or of sheltering rocks. That nature thus varies her gifts of beauty adds much to the charm of botanical research in Hingham, diversified as its sur- face is with hills and dales, with marshes and swamps, with ex- tensive woods and rocky elevations ; for who can wander over its high lands and its low lands, along its water-courses, and into the romantic recesses of its forest glens, without being impressed by, and gladdened with, the beauty spread before him everywhere ?
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The Botany of Hingham.
There are some species that, without any apparent reason, are limited to certain localities, rarely being found elsewhere, not- withstanding circumstances seem equally favorable for their devel- opment. As among these are several of exceeding beauty and their extermination in the town would certainly be a calamity, the writer cannot forbear calling attention to the fact that some are fast disappearing, and will soon be no longer found in the town unless care is taken for their preservation. One of these is that rare plant, bearing one of the most lovely of flowers, the Fringed Gentian. Unlike the common Blue Gentian, this delicate species is propagated only by seeds. What, then, must be the result of a general plucking of the flowers when they are in bloom, leaving none to mature ? Only extermination. And such plucking has been often done, and bouquets exhibited contain- ing scores of these flowers, when far better taste would have been shown had but few been placed together instead of a multitude. Animals are not alone in danger of extermination by thoughtless- ness. The tendency to take plants from their natural habitats and transplant them into gardens where circumstances have been less favorable for their existence, has undoubtedly led to the entire destruction of several species of perennials from our flora. One of these, the Asclepias tuberosa, has doubtless met such fate. This plant, one of the most beautiful of all the perennials that adorned the woods, and always rare, there is reason to believe is now ex- tinct except in cultivation, as no specimen has been discovered for several years, after diligent search. It is however given in the list of species, as it certainly grew in at least two localities, and may possibly yet exist. Furthermore there is one plant still living which was transplanted more than twenty years ago from the woods of South Hingham to the grounds now of Mr. Henry C. Cushing, where it yet may be seen yearly displaying a rich pro- fusion of its most charming orange-flowers.
There are several other plants that are found in but one or two localities, which it is hoped may be allowed to remain members of the flora. One of these is the Sambucus racemosa, L., the Red- Berried Elder. Another exceedingly rare plant with us is the Hibiscus Moscheutos, L. (Swamp Rose Mallow.) This is a tall perennial, with quite large, showy, rose-colored flowers, the corolla being five inches in diameter. It is found near the salt water, and but a single plant is known in Hingham.
Yet another species may be mentioned as observed in only one locality. This is the Lythrum Salicaria, L. The beautiful purple flowers of this may be seen upon a clump of the plants just at the edge of the water of Weir River, a short distance below the bridge on Leavitt Street.
It is not only for the preservation of the exceedingly rare plants of the town that the writer would plead. Quite as earnestly would he urge that the transcendent beauty which is often pre- sented along the sides of our roads, especially of those bordered
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History of Hingham.
by forest-growth, may be allowed to display itself and gladden the eyes and heart of the wayfarer. Yearly many of these roads are adorned with flowers of varied hue, charming to every be- holder. In the spring the modest Violet, the delicate Anemone, and the showy Buttercup open their petals to the sight. As the summer "sun shoots full perfection through the swelling year," the Wild Rose, the Eglantine (Sweet brier), the Common Elder, and many other species display their loveliness and exhale their fragrance. Then follows autumn, and everywhere there start up to beautify our highways the many Asters and Golden-rods, and it is just when these expand in gorgeous loveliness, outrivalling all that man can produce by the most consummate art, that the de- stroyer comes and sweeps them away in a day. The writer cannot too strongly express his regret at the custom of mowing down every plant that shows a flower through miles of highway, where this is by no means necessary.
A gentleman of much culture and taste, who had but recently visited and travelled extensively over England, remarked in con- versation : " I pined when abroad for the sight of wild flowers along the roads. The bordering grass-plots smoothly shorn to the hedge-rows became monotonous. I longed for the picturesque objects that everywhere attract attention here and which serve so much to interest the mind." The year before this was said, the writer had passed through the Third Division wood-road, where was displayed along its borders a profusion of fall flowers, making the view at many points simply exquisite. Delighted with the prospect of presenting to his friend a scene so in contrast with those mentioned, he was taken through the same road that had been spangled with beauty the previous season, with the hope that there might be a like display, but it was too late. The scythe had done its vandal work, and scarcely a flower was left to meet his eye. There is no desire to criticise in these remarks the work necessarily done for the convenience of wayfarers, whether on foot or in vehicles, but only to urge that what no person of taste would wish to have destroyed may be allowed to live. In the case referred to it is doubtful if ten persons could be found in the town who really would regard the devastation an improvement. Man should not ruthlessly destroy what has been given for his pleasure and refinement.
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